Surgical wire feeding device



Jan 20, 1953 T. w. HALLIDAY SURGICAL WIRE FEEDING DEVICE Filed April 20,1951 Patented Jan. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE l2 Claims.

rihis invention relates `to surgical instruments and has particularreference to a, feeding device for surgical wire.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a device forfeeding relatively fine wire into connedspaces. Such a device hasparticular application in the surgical treatment of aneurism, a more orless circumscribed dilation of a blood vessel. One `f the effectivemethods of treatment is to prevent puncture and fatal hemorrhage bysecuring coagulation of the blood in the dilatation or sac andcontraction of the clot. This is accomplished by filling the aneurismwith fine relatively soft wire upon which the blood coagulates. The wireis introduced through a hypodermic needle or the like. in many cases asmuch as 300 to 400 feet of wire is required to fill the sac, resultingin a difficult and time-consuming task for the surgeon who must feedthis wire by hand into the openv end of the needle.

Accordingly, another object of my invention is to provide a device formechanically feeding ne surgical wire at high speed into blood vesselsacs for the treatment of aneurism, 01 the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide a wire-feeding device ofthe type described which is simple in construction and which isextremely easy to operate.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed in which the manually operable parts are positioned at a pointremote from the wire-delivering end so that the device is easilymanipulated from outside the body of the patient.

Other objects and advantages of this invention, it is believed, will bereadily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof, on an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the clutch member andrelated parts.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 4-4 ofFigure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 5-5 ofFigure 2.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of the wiredelivery end of thedevice.

Referring now to the drawings, the device which embodies my invention isgenerally indicated at I0, and includes `an outer elongated guide ortube II and an inner elongated guide or tube i2. The tube I2 is adaptedto reciprocate within the outer tube II. The wire-delivery end I3 of thetube II is beveled as shown for puncturing the wall of the blood vesselsac (not shown). Mounted on the tube II adjacent the end I3 is acircular flange la of rubber or rubber-like material which is adapted tocontact the outer surface of the aneurism and limit further inwardtravel of the tube II. An adjustable collet I5 is provided for adjustingthe longitudinal position of the flange I4.

As shown in the drawings, the surgical wire Zit, which is relativelyline stainless steel, extends from a supply spool (not shown) throughthe inner tube I2 and out the delivery end I3 of the outer tube II.Clutch means are provided for releasably connecting the wire 2li to theinner tube I2 and as shown in the drawings, these means may comprise theclutch assembly 2d. This includes the handle member 25 which has a neckmember 26 in which is carried the free end 2l of the inner tube. Thishandle member, which may be .knurled as shown, has a central bore 2Saxially aligned with the tube l2 and through which bore is passed thewireZil.

A flange 29, having a longitudinal slot 3S, is provided at the end ofthe handle remote from the neck member 26, and pivotally connected inthe slot 33 by means of a pin 3| is a clutch member 32. This clutchmember comprises a longitudinal 4bar 33 having on one end a transverselyextending wire-clutching finger 313 operable in a transverse groove 35in the handle member. The groove 35 terminates in a plane surface 33perpendicular to the finger 3d and intersecting the bore 2 8 (see FigureLl) so that clamping pressure may be applied to the wire 2e by thefinger 3G without substantially distorting or crimping the wire. A thumbring 3i is provided on the top side of the bar 33.

Means are provided for limiting the stroke of the inner tube i2 and forpreventing disassembly of the inner and outer tubes. As shown in thedrawings, these means include a collar le secured to the receiving end4I of the outer tube iI, the end @I being vprovided with a shoulderportion i2. Arod 43 extends through a longitudinal borelll inthe collarlll) and is secured thereto by means of asetvscrew 4,3 (see Figure 5).The rod 43v extends through a, bore it in the flange v39 and terminatesin a stop member or collar 4l. It will be understood rthat the bore l isoversize so thatthe clutch assembly 2li is freely slidable along thelength of the rod d3. The length of the stroke may be adjusted 3 throughchanging the effective length of the rod 43 by means of the set screw45.

The operation of the device is as follows:

'Ihe wire-delivery end I3 is inserted through the dilated blood vesselwall and into the interior of the sac, the iiange I4 previously havingbeen adjusted to limit the depth of travel of the outer tube II into thesac. The collar 40, which is knurled as shown, is gripped with thefingers of one hand and the handle member 25 gripped with the lingers ofthe other hand, the thumb extending through the thumb ring 31. Theclutch assembly 24 is then moved from the solid line or forward positionto the phantom line or rearward position illustrated in Figure 1. Duringthis rearward movement of the clutchl assembly no pressure is exerted bythe thumb of the operator upon the ring 3l so that the wire 20 remainsin place, only the inner tube being carried rearwardly along with theclutch assembly. When the clutch assembly has reached the rearwardposition, pressure is exerted by the thumb, pivoting the clutch member32 toward the handle and clamping the wire 20 between the finger 34 andthe surface 38. II'he clutch assembly is then moved forward, telescopingthe wire tube I2 into the outer tube II, the wire being carried along bythe clutch assembly. When the clutch assembly reaches the forward orsolid line position, a length of wire equal to the length of the strokeof the clutch assembly will have been fed out of the delivery end I3 ofthe outer tube. This process of withdrawal and insertion of the innersleeve is continued until the desired length of wire has been fed intothe sac. After only a little practice a high speed of reciprocation canbe attained, and long lengths of wire may thus be fed in a short time.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention,I do not limit myself to the exact details of the construction setforth, and the invention embraces such changes, modifications andequivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as 'Y comewithin the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a surgical wirefeeding device, an outer elongated guide, an innerelongated guide adapted to encompass a length of wire and reciprocableforwardly into and rearwardly out of said outer guide, and clutch meansfor connecting a length of wire to said inner guide during the forwardstroke of said inner guide whereby the wire may be advanced through saidouter guide, said clutch means adapted to be released during therearward stroke of said inner guide.

2. In a surgical wire feeding device, an' outer elongated guide, aninner elongated guide adapted to encompass a length of wire andreciprocable forwardly into and rearwardly out of said outer guide,clutch means for connecting a length of wire to said inner guide duringthe forward stroke of said inner guide whereby the wire may be advancedthrough said outer guide, said clutch means adapted to be releasedduring the rearward stroke of said inner guide, and means for limitingthe stroke of said inner guide.

3. In a surgical wire feeding device, an outer elongated guide, an innerelongated guide adapted to encompass a length of wire and reciprocableforwardly into and rearwardly out of said outer guide, and clutch meanscarried on said inner guide for engaging a length of wire with saidinner guide during the forward stroke of said inner guide whereby thewire may be advanced through said outer guide, said clutch means adaptedto be disengaged during the rearward stroke of said inner guide.

4. In a surgical wire feeding device, an outer elongated guide, an innerelongated guide adapted to encompass a length of wire and reciprocableforwardly into and rearwardly of said outer guide, clutch means carriedon said inner guide for engaging a length of wire with said inner guideduring the forward stroke of said inner guide whereby the wire may beadvanced through said outer guide, said clutch means adapted to bedisengaged during the rearward stroke of said inner guide, and means forlimiting the stroke of said inner guide.

5. In a surgical wire feeding device, an outer elongated tube, an innerelongated tube adapted to contain a length of wire and axiallyreciprocable forwardly into and rearwardly out of said outer tube, andclutch means for connecting a length of wire to said inner tube for theforward stroke of said tube wherebythe wire may be advanced through saidouter tube, said clutch means adapted to be released during the rearwardstroke of said inner tube.

6. In a surgical wire feeding device, an outer elongated tube, an innerelongated tube adapted to contain a length of wire and axiallyreciprocable forwardly into and rearwardly out of said outer tube,clutch means for connecting a length of wire to said inner tube for theforward stroke of said tube whereby the wire may be advanced throughsaid outer tube, said clutch means adapted to be released during therearward stroke of said inner tube, and means for limiting the stroke ofsaid inner guide.

7. In a surgical wire feeding device, an outer elongated guide; an innerelongated guide adapted to encompass a length of wire and longitudinallyreciprocable forwardly into and rearwardly out of said outer guide; anda clutch assembly carried on said inner guide, said assembly including afinger adapted to be actuated to clamp the wire during the forwardstroke of said inner guide whereby the wire may be advanced throughsaidv outer guide, said linger adapted to be released during therearward stroke of said wire.

8. In a surgical wire feeding device, an outer elongated guide; an innerelongated guide adapted to encompass a length of wire and longitudinallyreciprocable forwardly into and rearwardly out of said outer guide; anda clutch `assembly carried on saidv inner guide, said assembly includinga handle member having a bore axially aligned with said inner guide, anda clutch member pivotally connected to said handle, said clutch memberhaving a finger operable in a transverse groove in said handle to clampthe wire.

9. In a surgical wire feeding device, an outer elongated guide; an innerelongated guide adapted to encompass a length of wire and longitudinallyreciprocable forwardly into and rearwardly out of said outer guide; anda clutch assembly carried on said inner guide, said assembly including ahandle member, and a clutch member pivotally connected to said handle,said clutch member having a finger operable to clamp the wire.

10. In a surgical wire feeding device, an outer elongated guide; aninner elongated guide adapted to encompass a length of wire andlongitudinally reciprocable forwardly into and rearwardly out of saidouter guide; a clutch assembly carried on said inner guide, saidassembly including a finger adapted to be actuated to clamp the wireduring the forward stroke of said inner guide whereby the wire may beadvanced through said outer guide, said nger adapted to be releasedduring the rearward stroke of said wire, and means for limiting thestroke of said inner guide.

1l. In a surgical wire feeding device, an outer elongated tube having awire receiving end and a wire feeding end; an inner elongated tubeadapted to contain a lengthof wire and axially reciprocable forwardlyinto and rearwardly out of said outer tube; a clutch assembly carried onthe free end of said inner tube, said assembly including a handle memberhaving a bore axially aligned with said inner tube, a flange carried onsaid handle, and a clutch member pivotally connected to said handle,said clutch member having a finger operable in a transverse groove insaid handle to clamp the Wire; and means for limiting the stroke of theinner tube, said means including a collar carried on the Wire receivingend of said outer tube, a rod extending longitudinally through a bore insaid flange, and a stop member carried on the end of said rod andadapted to contact the flange to limit rearward motion of the same.

12. In a surgical wire feeding device, an outer elongated tube having awire receiving end and a Wire feeding end; an inner elongated tubeadapted to contain a length of wire and axially reciprocable forwardlyinto and rearwardly out of said outer tube; a clutch assembly carried onthe free end of said inner tube, said assembly including a handlemember, a flange carried on said handle, and a clutch member pivotallyconnected to said handle, said clutch member having a nger operable toclamp the wire; and means for limiting the stroke of the inner tube,said means including a collar carried on the wire receiving end of saidouter tube, a rod extending longitudinally through a bore in saidilange, and a stop member carried on the end of said rod and adapted tocontact the flange to limit rearward motion of the same.

THOMAS W. HALLIDAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

V. Mueller and Co., Chicago, General Catalog. Copyright, 1938, page 193.Item NS 640. (Copy available Division 55.)-

